Outboard motor lift



, 1959 H. w. sHcNTz OUTBOARD MOTOR LIFT Aug. 25

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. l, 1956 1N V EN TOR. H. W. SHONTZ ATTORNEY Aug. 25, 1959 H. w. sHoNTz 2,901,194

ouTBoARD MOTOR LIFT Filed oct'. 1, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 2 ON\ Y 1N V EN TOR. H. W. SHONTZ ATTORNEY United States Patent Office Patented Aug. 25, 1959 OUTBOARD MOTOR LIFT Harry W. Shontz, Davenport, Iowa Application October 1, 1956, Serial No. 613,335

l1() Claims. (Cl. 248-4) This invention relates to the outboard-motor-equipped boat art and more particularly to a lift or transport mechanism for facilitating the positioning or handling of an outboard motor while in situ on the boat. Still more particularly, the invention constitutes an improvement over the basic design that forms the subject matter of my copending application Serial No. 562,812, tiled Feb. l, 1956, now matured as U.S. Patent No. 2,859,929.

In a typical outboard-motor-equipped boat, the motor is carried in a normal operating position at the rear end or transom of the boat `and ordinarily cannot be moved from this position except by complete removal, barring limited tilting of the motor for propeller angle, to accommodate shallows, etc. Hence, when the boatis to be transported, as on a vehicle-drawn trailer, for eX- ample, the motor must be bodily removed and either placed inside the boat or otherwise carried. instances in transport the motor is tilted upwardly and rearwardly about the conventional pivot provided between the motor itself and the motor mounting clamp which secures the motor to the transom, but even then the motor must have additional support directly to the trailer, since the transom cannot take the forces and shocks imposed during travel of the boat and trailer over roads and highways.

According to the present invention, these disadvantages, among others, are eliminated by the provision of a novel motor-handling mechanism which is capable of effecting movement of the motor between its normal operating position and a storage position inboard or within the boat, all with a minimum of manual labor and without disturbing the actual potential locational relationship of the motor to the boat. A principal feature of the invention resides in lift or transport mechanism supported on the boat and engaging the normally positioned motor without in any way adversely affecting normal operation of the boat or motor, yet which mechanism, by

In some proper manipulation and with very little manual effort,

is capable of carrying the motor easily and quickly to a storage position, in which latter position the motor may be safely transported, 4brought into the boat for inspection, adjustment, etc.

It is a significant object of the present invention to provide a novel support structure capable of occupying a relatively small amount of space at the rear end of the boat. A further feature of this support is that it includes frame or support elements` that are angularly adjustable to accommodate different angles between floors and transoms in different makes and types of boats, thus enabling use of the same basic structure in any of a wide variety of boats. Still another feature is the improvement of the mounting of the motor-carrying or shiftable means for fore-and-aft adjustment on the support structure. An important object resides in novel brace means capable of extension and retraction `as the motor shifts from operating position to transport position, which means is further capable of selective locking to secure either Vof said positions or a variety of intennediate positions. The shiftable means features motor-receiving means thereon for stably supporting the motor in its transport position. Other objects will be found to be accomplished in the novel and inexpensive construction, the facility of operation and maintenance of the mechanism, the adjuster-bility thereof to accommodate boats of different sizes and motors of different weights, and such other significant objects and features as are inherent in and encompassed by the invention as will be disclosed in detail in the ensuing specification and accompanying sheets of drawings, the several figures o-f which are described immediately below.

Figure l is a plan View of the improved mechanism, illustrating also the rear end portion of the boat and with the motor partly in section.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the mechanism, with the boat in longitudinal section.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a front View of the frame structure per se.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view illustrating the motorreceiving means.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Figure 6.

Only enough of the rear portion of a typical boat or craft is illustrated to orient the invention, and those familiar with the art will recognize the boat as including a floor means or bottom 10, a rear end or transom 12 and opposite sides 14. The floor conventionally includes cross strips 16, and the transom conventionally occupies an obtuse angle relative to the floor 1G, which angle will be found to vary from boat to boat, according to make and style. In a broad sense, the oor and transom represent angularly related support-receiving boat portions with which the novel support structure, designated in its entirety at 18, is associated.

The support structure is in the form of a skeletal frame means made up of base or lower elements 2l), generally upright but rearwardly inclined rear elements 22, upright front elements 26 and top or upper elements 24. Thus, at each side of the structure 18 four elements, comprising one each of the elements 20, 22, 24 and 26, afford a polygonal (here trapezoidal) side frame, and these two side frames are rigidly cross-connected at their front ends via the front uprights 26 and top and bottom cross members 28 and 30 and cross braces 32. 'IIhe side frame elements `are joined at their respective corners or junctions by releasable fasteners in the form of bolts and nuts 34 so that the support may be adjusted foreand-aft `to change the angle between each bottom ele ment 20 and its rear element 22. Thus, when the support or frame is placed in position in the boat, the angle just referred to will accommodate the yangle between the oor 10 and the transom 12, after which the nuts and bolts 34 are securely tightened. As will be seen, the bottom of the frame rests on or is received by or rests on `the boat floor 10 and the rear elements rest against or are received by the front face of the transom 12. Securing or aixing means, here long bolts 36, are passed through the transom and through the rear elerments 22. A metal plate 38 may be used over the top and rear portions of the transom and the bolts 36 may pass therethrough. This plate is normally present to receive and mount the motor, here shown at 40 as of conventional style `and having a transom-receiving clamp 42 by means of which the motor is disposed behind the transom in its conventional operating position, the elongated housing 44 Iof the motor depending vbelow the clamp to operate :in the water.

Additional aixation of the frame 18 is afforded by an added `cross member 46, preferably of wood and rigidly secured at its `opposite ends to the sides of the 3 boat so as to extend across the boat immediately ahead of the frame. The front elements 26 of the frame or support are secured to this cross member as by bolts 48. The transverse dimension4 of the support is such that it occupies only a relatively small central portion of the boat just ahead of the transom 12 and, as has already been covered, the support Vis yadjustable to fit any boat regardless of variations in angle between the 'oor and transom. If desired, fasteners in addition to or other than those shown at 36 and 48 may be used, but the arrangement shown will be found' acceptable `as a practicable design. Another thing about the support or frame structure: its height is such that' its top members or bars 24 are generally at the level of or in the horizontal plane of the top edge of the transom 12' so as tov facilitate cooperation between the support, the motor 40 and shiftable means 50 capable of eiecting movement of the motor between its operating position as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to a storage position within. the boat as shown in dotted lines in that gure. The shiftable or motor-carrying means 50 will now be described.

This means, as viewed from above, has the appearance of Ithe letter H, having fore-and-aft side bars or arm elements 52 and a rigid cross member 54. These arms are laterally and' symmetrically oset so asy to operate within the vertical' planes of the opposite sides of the structure 18 and the rear ends of the farms have a motor-engaging part -in the form of a cross shaft 56 which passes through the motor clamp. In the conventional motor, the motor housing 44 is mounted on the clamp 42 byl a cross shaft which serves `as a pivot, but inV thev interests of facilitating the mounting of the motor onv the present mechanism, this cross shaft is removed and replaced with the present and longer shaft 56, which spans the arm elements 52 and which is secured' to the rear ends of those arms by means best shown in Figure 4. This means includes, at each end of the shaft, an internally threaded collar 58V which is threadedV on the' shaft and which passes through `an opening 60 inthe arm. The collar is hexagonally headed at 62 to abut the `outer side of the arm 52: and a lock nut 64 threads on the shaft andl secures Ithe position of the collar. An outer nut 66 confines an elastomer spacer 68 between the collar head 62 :and an angle member 70. The arrangement is the same atv the other end of the shaft. The intermediate portion' of the shaft carries a pair of jam lnuts 72, one at each side of the motor clamp 42,r and these secure the central position' of the motor 4'0. The shaft 56 affords a' pivot on a transverse axis about wlhich the motor may swing bodily foreand'aft relative to the shiftable means50, forpurposes to be described below. Also, the motor may swing about the shaft 56 relative to the clamp 42' for conventional' purposes. When the motor is in its operating position, it is of course clamped securely to the transom 12. The side bars or arm elements 52 are kicked up at their rear `ends to place the shaft 56A properly as respects the motor clamp 42.

Thel fore parts of the arm' elements 524 are movably mounted on the upper bars'orelements 24: of the frame 18 by mountingy means` 74 (see Fig. 3), each of which is fore-and-aft adjustable4 via `a slot 76 in the top frame element 24. Each mounting-means 74' comprises an uprightmember or rod; 78 having its lower end pivoted to the lower frame element 20 at 80 and having an upper end portion provided with a threaded stud 82 which passes through the sl-ot 76 to receive a nut 84. When the nut 84is-loosened, the means 74 may be moved foreandLaft along the slot 76, thus varying the distance thereof from the transom` Each rod has at its terminal upper endl a joint member 86, preferably including a ball andsecket 88 to` accommodate minor variations in manufacture. The joints 86 of theV two meansV 74 are transversely alined and iajord a transverse pivot on which.- the shiftable means arm elements 52 are carried by studs 90 included in the balls and sockets 88. Thusthe shiftable means is swingable from a rear position, in which it is connected to the `operativelyl positioned motor via the cross shaft 56, to a front position (dotted lines, Fig. 2) in which it remains connected to the motor as before, hence being openative to shift the motor between its operating `and transport positions.

Ready shifting of the mechanism and motor supported thereby is achieved by the useY of counterbalance springs 92, two being used, preferably, at each side of the mechanism. Each pair of springs is connected at their upper and lower endsV respectively to upper and lower Ts or equalizers 94 and 96,. the former being selectively connected to any one of a plurality of holes 98 in the arm element 52! via a connector pin' 100 and the latter being received by a threaded rod 102 which carries an adjusting nut 104 and which is secured to the lower part of the upright rod 78, (Figure 3). Selection of the hole 98 to which the upper T 94 is connected will depend upon the weight of the motor to be counterb'alancedA and the nut 104 is used to adjust the tension on the springs. As the mechanism swin gs between its front and rear positions, the line of force exerted by the springs shifts to opposite sides of the pivot axis through 86-86. The rods 78 counteract the spring load between the frame elements 20 and 24' and prevent bending of these elements.

A further feature of the invention is the provision at each side of the mechanism of novel brace or control means 106. Each means is-lockable to serve as brace but is selectively extensible and retractible or otherwise capable of lengthening and shortening, and comprises a tubular member 108 and a telescopically received rod 110. The rod 110 is rigidly secured to the previously describedy angle member 70 at the proximate end of the motor-receiving shaft 56 and the tubular member 108 is rigidly secured to a similar angle member 112 which is pivoted at 114 tothe front upright 26 of the proximate side of the structure 18. This pivot is below the pivot axis at 86-86 and the arrangement is such that the brace means forms-one side of a triangle having apices at 114, 86 and 56, but this one side is capable of changes in length as the mechanism swings through the range defined between its front and rear positions, the rod 110 sliding in the tubular member 108. The lengths of the members 108 and 110 may be such that when the mechanism is in its front position the members interengage and form stops d'ening that position. In addition to those stops, the arm elements 52 of the shiftable means 50 will engage the top of the top cross member 28 of the frame 18. Of greater importance, however, is that the tubular member 108 is provided with an internally threaded projecting lug 116 which receives a thumb screw 118 that may be selectively tightened and loosened to respectively e11- gage and release the slidable rib 110, Hence the releasable locking means thus afforded is applicable to lock the brace means 106 in any selected position of extension and retraction and may thus stop movement of the shiftable means52 in any intermediate position, which is useful in draining, repairing, adjusting, etc. the motor 40 (dot-dash lines, Figure 2).

From the description thus far, it will be seen that during normal operation the arm means is in its rear position and the motor is clamped to the transom 12 by its clamp 42. Hence, the motor at this time assumes its conventional relationship to the boat. However, the lift or shifting mechanism is extremely important in swinging the motor from the operating position to the storage or transport position and return. The first step in preparing the motor for movement to its storage position, or any position ahead of its operating position, is to release the clamp 42'. The motor of course remains connected to the shaft 56. Now, as the lift mechanism or shiftable means swings from its rear position to its front position, the motor 40, carried by the shaft 56, can pivot fore-and-aft and isthus ableto clear the transom 12. As the mechanism approaches its vertical position, the motor 40 will depend from the shaft 56 and will lie directly behind the now upright means 50. In other words, the bottom of the cross bar 54 between the arm elements 52 will now face the rear and is thus in a position to be contacted by the front edge of the motor housing 44. For this purpose, the bar 54 is provided with motor-receiving means in the form of a rubber pad 120 and a pair of spaced eyes 122 which receive a strap 124 and buckle 126 (Figures 6 and 7). Now, as the mechanism and motor continue forwardly, the motor housing will rest on the pad 120 and the strap and buckle may beused to tie down the motor, thus stably supporting the motor on the cross bar 54 as well as via the shaft 56. This is significant not only in keeping the motor from bouncing but also for preventing it from swinging about its usual vertical steering pivot as at 128. It will be understood of course that when the mechanism is in its forward position, the lock means 116-118 on the brace means 106 are secured to hold the mechanism from undesirable upward movement and jouncing.

It is deemed that the use and operation of the invention are clear from the foregoing and that it will suffice to refer only briey to the accomplishment of the aforesaid objects and features by the presently preferred structure disclosed here. For example, the frame or mounting structure, being adjustable, will t any boat. Since it is compact and rugged, it occupies but a small amount of space and its long life and efficiency are assured. The lockable brace means affords releasable lock structure for securing not only the front and rear positions described but also an infinite number of intermediate positions. The ready adaptability of the cross shaft 56 to any of the wide variety of standard outboard motors is also of benet to the manufacturer, distributor and user, in which regard it should be noted that the motor may be readily dismounted from the shiftable means 52 by merely removing the outer lock nuts 66, angles 70 and spacers 68 and unthreading the collars 58, after which lateral shifting of the motor, still mounted on the rod 56, will release the motor. Since the shaft 56 is slidably and thus pivotally received by the motor clamp, it operates as a pivot when in use, but it may be readily moved by removing one of the inner jam nuts 72 and withdrawing the shaft, after which it may be replaced by the original shaft in the event that it is required or desired that the motor be used elsewhere.

Features of the invention not categorically elaborated will readily occur to those versed in the art, as will modications in the preferred embodiment disclosed, all of which may be achieved Without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. For a boat having floor means and a transom and an outboard motor having an operating position behind the transom: mechanism for moving the motor selectively between said operating position and a storage position ahead of the transom and within the boat, comprising support structure having a lower frame element mountable on the floor means of the boat, a rear frame element rising from the lower frame element and mountable against the front of the transom, and an upper frame kelement extending forwardly from said rear element, means interconnecting said lower and rear elements for relative angular adjustment to accommodate the angle between the floor means and the transom; shiftable means normally occupying a rear position and having a rear part proximate to the operatively positioned motor and a forward part adjacent to a portion of the support structure ahead of the transom; motor-engaging means on said rear part for supporting the motor; and mounting means relatively movable connecting said forward part of the shiftable means to said forward portion of the support structure for enabling forward shifting of the shiftable means and supported motor to a forward position for disposing the motor in said storage position and for returning the motor to its operating position.

2. The invention dened in claim 1, in which: the mounting means includes an adjustable connection to the support structure providing for fore-and-aft of said mounting means to vary the distance between said mounting means and the rear frame element.

3. The invention defined in claim l, in which: the shiftable means comprises an arm element; the mounting means includes a pivot on a transverse axis whereby the arm element swings upwardly and forwardly from its rear position to its forward position and vice versa; the motor-engaging means includes a transverse pivot from which the motor depends and about which the motor is swingable fore-and-aft as it moves with the arm element; and the arm element has means thereon spaced from the motor-engaging means for receiving a lower portion of the motor upon swinging of the arm means to its forward position whereby to stably support the motor in its storage position.

4. The invention dened in claim 3, including: selectively extensible and retractible brace means connected to the arm element in spaced relation to the mounting means pivot and connected to the support structure also in spaced relation to said mounting means pivot, said brace means extending and retracting as the arm element swings; and releasable means for securing the brace means against extension and retraction to lock the arm element against swinging.

5. For a boat having oor means and a transom and an outboard motor having an operating position behind the transom: mechanism for moving the motor selectively between said operating position and a storage position ahead of the transom and within the boat, comprising support structure having means for the a'ixation thereof of the boat ahead of the transom; an arm element pivoted to the support structure on a transverse axis ahead of the transom to extend rearwardly in a rear position in which its terminal part is proximate to the operatively positioned motor, said terminal part having motor-engaging means for supporting the motor, and said arm element being swingable upwardly and forwardly about said axis to extend forwardly in a forward position and operative thereby to carry the motor to said storage position and for returning said motor to its operating position; and extensible and retractable brace means connected to the arm element in spaced relation to the pivot axis and connected to the `support structure also in spaced relation to said pivot axis, said brace means extending and retracting as the arm element swings, and said brace means including releasable means for securing same against retraction and extension for locking said arm element against swingmg.

6. The invention defined in claim 5, in which: the motor-engaging means includes a transverse pivot from which the motor depends and about which the motor is swingable fore-and-aft as it moves with the arm element; and the arm element has means thereon spaced from the motor-engaging means for receiving a lower portion of the motor upon swinging of the arm means to its forward position whereby to stably support the motor in its storage position.

7. For a boat having a transom and another boat portion angularly related to and adjacent the transom and an outboard motor having an operating position behind the transom: mechanism for moving the motor selectively between said operating position and a storage position ahead of the transom and within the boat, comprising support structure having angularly related elements mountable respectively on the transom and said other boat portion; shiftable means normally occupying a rear position and having a rear part proximate to the operatively positioned motor and a forward part adjacent to a portion of the support structure ahead of the transom; motorengaging means on said rear part for supporting Athe 7 motor; and mounting means.y connecting said forwardpart of the shiftable means; to-v saidforwardy portion of the support. structure fon enabling forwardy shifting of the shiftableV means` and=supp`o1fted motor toa fowardposition for disposing: the motor ini said storage positionl and for netumning. the motor to its openating position.

8. The invention# defined. in claim 7 including: means adjust-ably interconnecting`r said` suppont structure elements for relat-i-ve ang'gnlar` adjustment toaccommodate the angle between the tnansom andsaid other boat portion.

9; The invention defined in. ,claim- 8, in which: the mount-ingl means includes an adjustable: connection to the support structure for enabling fore-and-aft adjustment of References Cited in the le of this patent ED STATES PATENTS McLaren June- 1", 1l91`5 Heath Mar. I3; 1956 

